Ahmad Out

At the zenith of his power the last Tsar Nicholas of Russia was notorious as a faineant who allowed others to direct even his policies. A sharp question would probably have revealed that he had no idea whether there was a Russian garrison in Persia or not. Had Nicholas possessed the grasp of detail of a Napoleon he could not but have known of a certain utterly obscure private in that garrison whom the world has come to know as Reza Khan, Dictator of Persia.

When Nicholas toppled from the most absolute of Christian thrones, the obscure private rallied some of his disbanded Cossack comrades about him, cajoled and coerced them into a little army. By the example of his extraordinary personal bravery, he spurred them on to acts of organized plunder which enabled him to pay them regularly and cement their loyalty. In February, 1921, he terrorized Persia into accepting him as her Minister of War; by October, 1923, he had become Premier and Dictator of Persia; last week the cables carried confused reports which apparently herald his metamorphosis from Dictator into Monarch.

At Teheran, the Persian Assembly, or "Majlis," adopted a resolution deposing the present Kajar dynasty "for the sake of the national welfare," by a vote of 80 to 5. The resolution "entrusted the Government to Reza Khan"-- to exactly what extent is not known. Cables report that he has assumed "the office and rank of Shah"; and contrarily that "the Majlis is deliberating as to what shall be the permanent form of Persia's Government," and is leaning toward a republic with Reza Khan as President. The former version is supported by picturesque "details" to the effect that "the new Shah has ordered the price of bread reduced throughout the kingdom . . . proclaimed three holidays of rejoicing . . . [and] pensioned the former Shah and Royal Family."

Since it appears certain that former Shah Ahmad has been overthrown, much interest centered last week about that famed and dissolute young man. His many escapades were recalled with gusto (TIME, Mar. 10., 1924).

Two years ago he quitted his sumptuous palace and well-stocked harem at Teheran, came to Paris, and, like many another, was reported "deeply shocked" at what he saw and heard there. Six months later he had succeeded in shocking in return all but the most blase inhabitants of Paris,

Deauville, Cannes, Biarritz and Monte Carlo.

His gambling losses alone are estimated at well over $3,000,000. And the entertainments which he has staged upon his yacht off most of the fashionable watering places in Europe have become a byword, and are said to have accounted for another million.

In the past he has often declared, "Persia can wait," when requested to return by anxious Persian nobles. But when he left Persia two years ago, Reza Khan is reported to have told him that he had "neither the gift nor the acquired talent for government." And since his worst enemies cannot deny that he has both a gift and a talent for a soft, langorous, dreamy mood," he has apparently remained content without harem, palace or actual royal state. His dynasty, the Kajar, it was noted, has ruled since 1779, when the Zand dynasty was overthrown. Shah Ahmad himself came to the throne in 1909 at the age of eleven.